7 5 2014stsn p47 49 opinion

Opinion

www.SanTanSun.com

July 5 – 18, 2014

Community Commentary

Letters to the editor

Chandler financially strong, on the move

BY MAYOR JAY TIBSHRAENY

The Chandler City Council unanimously approved the fiscal year 2014-15 budget at its June 12 meeting. This financial plan is the product of a long and Mayor Jay Tibshraeny transparent Submitted photo process—and many hours of work on the part of our City staff, the City Council, and you, the residents of Chandler.

Through public meetings, surveys and our popular Budget Connect online forum, we have developed a thorough and prudent fiscal blueprint that this community can take great pride in.

Through decades of economic policy, Chandler has developed a solid financial footing that is the envy of many of our neighboring communities.

We remain cautious in our forecast, but also optimistic that the worst of the recent financial troubles are behind us. Chandler weathered the Great Recession well and we emerge—as the theme of this year’s budget proudly states—“Financially Strong and On the Move.”

The 2014-15 budget shows a slight increase from the prior year, and we again are able to fund new road projects in South Chandler, build parks and maintain basic services and infrastructure. With that said, I am guardedly confident that we will continue to move in a positive direction with the economy in terms of our fiscal sustainability and growth.

This past year was a good one for

the community. We opened Roadrunner Park, added amenities to existing parks like shade structures and lighting, and continued to enhance and develop neighborhood programs and resources.

In February, I announced the winners of the inaugural Neighborhood Excellence Awards—shining a light on the great things residents are doing throughout the community.

Arizona State University launched its Chandler Innovation Center in downtown Chandler in partnership with TechShop. Fed Ex broke ground on a new distribution center at the City’s Airpark and General Motors is finishing construction on its technology center near the confluence of the Loop 101 and 202 freeways. As I have said in the past, businesses find Arizona—and Chandler— attractive because we do have a very talented workforce thanks in large part to a quality state university system that is producing a creative class of skilled labor at all levels.

Thanks goes to our management team and budget staff for their dedicated work to prepare a conservative and sensible plan. Thanks also to my fellow city councilmembers.

They remain fully dedicated and unified to an unrelenting excellence and life quality for our city and residents. We live in a great community. A place of opportunity for families and commerce alike. A place putting a premium on superior programs and services. And above all, a place I can confidently say is indeed financially strong and on the move.

Mayor Jay Tibshraeny is the mayor of Chandler.

SEE COMMUNITY COMMENTARY PAGE 48

Thank you City of Chandler Dear editor, Thank you for publishing my letter to the editor (“Abandoned home problematic to neighborhood”) in the SanTan Sun News. I received a call today from a concerned citizen expressing his support of my situation. I let him know that the City of Chandler really stepped up to the plate quickly to address my concerns.

I want to point out what a fabulous job our fine City officials have done to respond to my concerns. Within 24 hours of my email, the City of Chandler had corresponded back to my original email, and as of June 19, the tree has been trimmed, and the front lawn has had the weeds trimmed down to an acceptable level. I commend the City of Chandler for quick action and response to my concern.

I do feel like I live in a city that cares about its citizens.

Those at the City that deserve recognition are: Malcolm Hankins, neighborhood preservation manager, and City of Chandler; Rick Heumann, Chandler City Council vice mayor.

Sincerely, Brent Stark

documents and policies as well as state and local legal restrictions.

The OCA is continuing to proceed with all legal options and remedies available to the association. As with every violation issue within the community, it is our intent to gain compliance from the owners of the home. With the compliance process continuing, The OCA provided assistance on Tuesday, June 17, by cutting weeds, trimming bushes and trees and cleaning up the front yard.

The OCA does care about all of its residents. Ocotillo is a community of more than 3,500 homes. We pride ourselves on the beauty of our community and how well it is maintained.

Occasionally, we have a home that is abandoned, in foreclosure, or simply neglected by the homeowner. The OCA certainly understands the frustration associated with living next door to one of these distressed properties, but rest assured that we move as quickly as the law and our governing documents allow us.

Thank you for allowing The OCA to respond to the “Abandoned Home Problematic to Neighborhood.”

Board of Directors The Ocotillo Community Association

Dear San Tan Sun, The Board of Directors for The Ocotillo Community Association would like to offer the following response to your recently published article “Abandoned home problematic to neighborhood.”

The Ocotillo Community Association (The OCA) is aware of the condition of the landscaping at this home. The association has been, and will continue to follow up in accordance with the association’s

Call HOA about problematic home Dear editor, This is in response to the article “Abandoned home problematic to neighborhood.”

If the Ocotillo HOA is not taking care SEE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PAGE 49

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Opinion

July 5 – 18, 2014

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Community Commentary

Tougher laws intend to lessen human trafficking in Arizona

BY JEFF WENINGER

Human trafficking is the secondlargest organized crime in the world. While we hear this statistic fairly often, many people don’t realize the Jeff Weninger scope of its Submitted photo meaning.

Human trafficking is a difficult subject to talk about and one that many don’t want to believe is happening in our community.

Since I became aware of this issue, I have made it a priority to learn more about how young girls in the Valley are falling victim to these predators and what adults can do to help protect them.

Kids are being solicited through online video games and chat rooms, at malls, parks and virtually anywhere young people are found. So, it’s important to monitor the online activities of your children and be aware of who your kids are spending time with and where they are hanging out.

We hear stories on the news about these types of crimes, but until a year or so ago, I had no idea this was happening in my own backyard. I was shocked to

learn that Phoenix is the second-largest hub for human trafficking in the United States, behind Las Vegas, because of its geographic location along the circuit of interstate highways. Girls are being forced to work as prostitutes from one major city to the next.

Human trafficking is defined by the U.S. Department of State as, among other things, the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining a person for labor, services or commercial sex acts by means of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of exploitation. This is essentially modernday slavery and it’s critical we keep our awareness up so that we, as a community, can better combat it.

Maricopa County averages approximately 40 cases annually involving prosecuting violations specific to human trafficking or child prostitution statutes. Surprisingly, law enforcement sees a higher incidence of this crime when there is a major sporting event in town.

Recently, during my Chandler in Focus program, I interviewed a few individuals who work closely with this issue. Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery was one of my guests. Last fall, Bill was one of several members to serve on Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s Task Force on Human Trafficking. The Task Force was asked to look at Arizona laws, administrative practices and law

enforcement training to determine what could be done to help reduce the occurrence of human trafficking in Arizona.

The Task Force made recommendations in the areas of protection, prosecution and prevention.

Subsequently, in April, Gov. Brewer signed legislation to toughen the laws surrounding this crime. House Bill 2454 increases penalties to “pimps” for offenses involving 15-, 16- and 17-year-old girls and also to the “johns” who solicit these underage girls.

The trauma associated with these crimes is long lasting. The good news is there are resources available to help.

One organization with a mission to provide restoration and healing is the Starbright Foundation. To learn more about this organization and how to volunteer, visit Starbrightfoundation.org or to view a full copy of the Governor’s Task Force on Human Trafficking report, visit www.azgovernor.gov.

Human trafficking has no boundaries.

This crime can happen to anyone. It’s important to stay informed, learn the signs and symptoms for identifying victims and help bring awareness to others so we can keep our children safe and put an end to this terrible crime.

Jeff Weninger is a Chandler city councilman.

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A nonagenarian notable notes

BY DOROTHY YOUNG

Happy 238th birthday, America.

The founders of our country had a great vision for this new nation. For all of the history of mankind, governments have always governed from the top down. The people had very little control over their lives. Totalitarian regimes were normal and freedom for the people was a concept that was not permitted. In the 16th and 17th centuries, there was a mass European migration of people with a God-given yearning for freedom to America. They formed the nucleus of our country.

Our founding documents were written in clear, simple to understand language and gave control to the citizens over their lives. Government worked for the people, not the reverse, and it was assigned specific duties. These duties are clearly spelled out in the Constitution, and anything not so stated is the responsibility of state and local authorities.

This brings governing authority closer to the people where they can be held accountable.

We have moved so far away from those concepts that we are losing the qualities that made us exceptional. We are not superior to other people in our intelligence, talents, abilities, kindness or any other attribute. It is our government as formed by the founding documents that is exceptional. The freedom it provides gives our people the ability to do great things and to use their God-given talents to improve the lives of all.

There are those who think that our country’s founding was unjust and immoral and has not kept up with modern times, and therefore the Constitution is no longer relevant. Dr. Thomas

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Opinion

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Dorothy Young is a Chandler resident.

49

Letters to the editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM PAGE 47

Sowell has referred to such self-appointed saviors of the country as “The Anointed.” Our founding was inspired

by God and, like the Bible, its basic tenets will never be irrelevant. Because humans are imperfect, mechanisms are in place to amend the Constitution when the people think it is necessary, and this has been done 27 times. The first 10 amendments were meant to ensure our freedoms from government intrusions and were called the Bill of Rights.

We went from being a fledgling to the most powerful nation on Earth in a relatively short 175 years. Since then, “the Anointed” has been undermining the Constitution and the Declaration to fit an agenda. The results can be readily seen. We have a massive debt burden for future generations to bear, our world standing has fallen to new lows, immigration is out of control because our borders are not secure, the economy has left young college graduates discouraged about starting careers and there is no moral compass to guide the country. Most elected officials are more interested in power and getting reelected than in returning the country back to the founding principles that worked so well.

We are becoming a nation of takers with a dwindling productive population to support the growing nonproducers. This needs to turn around before we reach the tipping point.

As we come face to face with our 238th birthday, I pray that God will provide us with new leaders that will be dedicated to leading the country in a new direction before it is too late and we have lost the last and best hope for all of mankind.

America has been the “Promised Land” for millions of people over the centuries. The first Promised Land was lost because of continued disobedience. It is not too late for us to turn our country back to its founding principles before we lose this precious heritage.

Wake up, America! Let us all roll up our sleeves and get to work.

July 5 – 18, 2014

if this issue, then they are not doing their job. The main purpose of an HOA is to maintain and improve the entire neighborhood. Most of the time this includes the common areas, but in some instances it may include the front yards of abandoned homes. It really is a minimal cost to the HOA that benefits all residents of that neighborhood. My recommendation to Mr. Stark is to have several people call the HOA to get it done.

Jeff Grammer Vice president of the Lantana Ranch HOA

Responding about blighted home Brent, Yes, it’s unfortunate that nothing was being done about the home, and investors are on the prowl. I strive hard to keep values up in your neighborhood, and if you have any contact with the owner we will get the home sold for market value. Feel free to refer them to my website at http://livingchandler.com.

With warm regards, Matthew Coates West USA Realty Revelation, Realtor (602) 332-3321 (cell)

Sun Lakes resident responds to SRP article To COOP SUN LAKES members, I read the article in the SanTan Sun News regarding the latest information on the 230kv power line routes.

In the article it states that only 16 homes in Sun Lakes would be affected, per Tom Novy, SRP project manager.

This is in direct contradiction to the sensitivity report the SRP put out on April 17, 2013, that shows 659 homes

would be affected on the Hunt Highway Railroad Route.

I wonder if this also takes into account the new homes being built on the land just west of the railroad tracks which were not there when the study was done.

Keep in mind that the poles that SRP are proposing are going to be 125 to 130 feet in height and will be visible from not just the homes adjacent to the route but for several streets in from the route as well as the clubhouse.

I also want to point out again what I have written in the past and what John Porter brought up at the meeting.

Sun Lakes does not have representation by Chandler. So it is in Chandler’s best interest to suggest to SRP the GRIC route alternative be used as opposed to the Germann route, the other route being considered, which is in Chandler and would be less miles. And according to the SRP impact study, only 299 homes would be affected.

Again, this is a Chandler need for the Price Road Corridor project. Not a Sun Lakes need. Yet Chandler sees an opportunity to add visual pollution to our community to keep their areas free of obstructions.

SRP states they will not carry the cost of the putting the lines underground but will do if someone else pays.

Almost 70 percent of the Sun Lakes homeowners’ tax bill goes to Chandler schools. If we were to petition to remove Sun Lakes from paying this tax, as Sun City West did about a decade ago, we could use the money to pay SRP to bury the lines in Chandler. It would take about two to three years to have the money they say is needed. If Sun Lakes’ residents still wanted to contribute to the Chandler Unified School District they have the opportunity to make a tax credit donation.

Thank you, Bill Markmann

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